acdc1a said:Or to put it another way, government telling you (being individuals and corporations) how to run every aspect of your life including financial.

So yes, socialism.

so assuming that you live in the United States you do realize that your government was created based on some socialist principles. Those Social Security checks, Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, public schooling and others are all socialist programs, right?

The United States government was not based on socialistic principles, in fact quite the opposite. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures was a novel idea about freedom and represents just the 4th of the original 10 amendments to the constitution. In fact, our founding fathers wanted government out of their lives.

The Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, etc were all long after the government's creation and long after we stopped paying attention to the constitution.

Well said, sir. You would think some of these people never went to school. Anyone who thinks that Social Security, Welfare etc founded our country should be shipped off to an island to starve. Good grief. As far as it being "socialist" I'd say that it's closer to fascist. The FCC is a government entity and it our government is run by Corporations and Banks. So that = fascism. Socialism is a way to manage citizens by the government... Fascism is the only form of government capable of implementing Socialism completely.

When I saw this article I was about to go into a tirade about why a company is forced to make a product. But your comments pretty much summed it up.

Regardless of political beliefs you can trace the downfall of traditional American values to Lincoln's inaugural address when he rejected a state's right to succeed. Without the fear of the people both as a whole and as individual states the Federal Government will know no bounds.

acdc1a said:Regardless of political beliefs you can trace the downfall of traditional American values to Lincoln's inaugural address when he rejected a state's right to succeed. Without the fear of the people both as a whole and as individual states the Federal Government will know no bounds.

Andrew Jackson did it before him. He marched into his home state of South Carolina with an Army ready to kill the Congressmen who had voted to Nullify his tariff laws. Jackson was a badass when it came to his stance on central banking but he was a power hungry dictator in most else. Jackson started the American Civil war with that single act of tyranny. It just took a few years for it to come to a head. People who c...(continues)

mr_sparkle said:so assuming that you live in the United States you do realize that your government was created based on some socialist principles. Those Social Security checks, Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, public schooling and others are all socialist programs, right?

Apparently you are unaware that there are many people in the US who don't like those things. And every time one is started or expanded, people cry "socialism", are told they are crazy, and then the thing they were told ISN'T socialism is used to justify future socialist programs because we already have some.

I happen to be in favor of a lot of those things which provide help for specific groups in situations where they need help. But y...(continues)

Unfortunately when you create such a net it eventually becomes the permanent support. Look at 99 weeks of unemployment, lifetime section 8 recipients, etc. It's my opinion that the Great Depression was only prolonged by government intervention. The only thing to actually bring the US out of depression was WWII.

Jayshmay said:Personally I think there's a difference between the government providing some sort of safety net, and what is being referred to as socialism.

I agree. acdc1a quoted a definition of socialism, and then said "in other words" something which didn't actually fit the definition. Socialism isn't just when the government issues dictations. Socialism is when the government owns the business.

so assuming that you live in the United States you do realize that your government was created based on some socialist principles. Those Social Security checks, Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, public schooling and others are all socialist programs, right?

Check your history. Everything but public schooling was created during the Great Depression, not at the creation of the US government. Even public schooling was not actually addressed in the Constitution. While there are several things I disagree with, and even more that I'm uncomfortable with, that the government does, let's make sure credit is given properly.

The Constitution restricts the powers of the FEDERAL government. State or local government would have province over public schooling. Unfortunately, in the case of public schooling as well as seat belt laws or drinking ages and so forth...the Congress typically strong arms states into enacting laws by withholding federal funding if they refuse to enact those laws. For example, Alabama's drinking age was 19 and they refused to raise it to 21 as the Feds insisted. Congress threatened to withhold highway funding if they did not raise it. This happens all the time.

Not saying that at all. Public schooling is in the public interest and is locally controlled while being at least partially federally funded. This does not cause it to fall under the tag of "socialism." My intention was to clarify for those people that are determined to believe the intentions of the founders were to have the system we currently have.

For it to be Socialist, the government would have to own T-Mobile. Government regulations, laws, rules aren't socialist. They are voted on by our Representatives in Washington that we elected to do just that, as in the Constitution. A government agency telling you what to do is not socialism. If we didn't have these rules, companies would be able to do what they wanted, releasing dangerous products...you name it..

How many bad drugs has the FDA green lighted because of big pharma in their pockets? How much money does the TSA waste in the name of "security?" Ever hear of pink slime in your meat? USDA says it's safe because the beef industry says it's safe.

This is proof that we don't need government in every aspect of our lives. If the market demands it, the phone manufacturers will deliver it. It's that simple.

Seriously,If those Teabaggers or Ron Paul kooks had their way we would have no regulation, airplanes would run into each other, 3/4's of the drugs would kill us, cell phone's would irradiate us. Government isn't perfect, but it's just about the best in the world. Keep in mind, WE CHOSE THEM.

jhr2112 said:Seriously,If those Teabaggers or Ron Paul kooks had their way we would have no regulation,

Labeling opponents of this mandate "teabaggers" makes no more sense than labeling the mandate "socialism".

Keep in mind, WE CHOSE THEM.

In fact, quite a lot of people didn't choose "them". And even among those who are listed on paper as having chosen "them", quite a lot of those people will tell you they voted for "them" because there was jack else available.

Yep, we chose'em, and look what fiscal situation this country is in, $16+ trillion in federal debt, a good chunk of it to a COMMUNIST country, and well on our way to $18-$19+ trillion in federal debt so long as this liberal loone Obama is in the W.H.,this countries future in going DOWN HILL very, very fast.

Face the facts, please! For the future of this country, face the facts!